Bonding solution

Chemistry relies on reactivity, so chemists have puzzled for years over how to make and break bonds in unreactive molecules. David Stuart and Keith Fagnou of the University of Ottawa in Canada are now developing a range of catalysts that not only speed up reactions but can endow a group of important molecules with much greater reactivity than normal.¹

Unreactive arenes are joined together to make biaryls, which are components of a wide range of materials for use in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Such OLEDs are used for mobile electronic gadgets, artificial photosynthesis units for generating electricity from sunlight, and liquid crystals for computer displays. The same chemical units are also found in pharmaceuticals, such as the powerful antibiotic vancomycin and the anticancer drug Glivec.